EFFECTS OF ‘MAITREE’ VRUTTI ON PRACTITIONERS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO VIPASSANA MEDITATION TECHNIQUE

Abstract

Background:Now a day’s modern medicine has developed in different ways but importance of the doctor-patient relationship is decreased. Empathy is most valuable part to improve doctor-patient relationship. Acharya Charaka has mentioned four attitudes of a physician Maitree (loving kindness), Karuna (compassion), Preeti (joy with others), Upeksha (equanimity) with the help of that one can improve and develop a good relationship with the patients and among these Maitree Vrutti is described in Vipassana meditation as Metta Bhavana (the meditation on loving kindness’. Objectives:To see whether physicians are benefitted by Maitree (loving kindness) attitude or not Methods:Approval from Institutional Ethics Committee and Vipassana Research Institute was taken for this study. Literature like Bruhattrayee, Patanjali Yogsutra, and Buddhist literature was studied. Neurobic machine is used. Study Design: Observational - Cross sectional study Results:On the basis of collected data, efforts were made to throw light on the importance of Maitree Vrutti (loving kindness) of practitioner to build up best doctor-patient relationship. Conclusion:Vaidyasya Chaturvidh Vrutti (fourfold attitude of physician) plays a vital role in building doctor patient relationship. Maitree Vrutti (loving kindness) is studied and explained in detail in Vipassana meditation as Metta Bhavana. This study shows that the physicians who have done Vipassana meditation course and practising it have developed a Maitree (loving kindness) attitude towards self and others.